Two new members were welcomed to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors during the board's first meeting of 2023 on Tuesday, including former Menlo Park Council member Ray Mueller and Noelia Corzo, the first Latina to serve on the board.
The last time two new board members were instated at the same time to the five-member board was in 1993. This represents the most significant change to the board in 30 years, according to the county.
The election of Corzo is also highly significant. Corzo will be the first Latina to serve on the board in its 158-year history. She will also be the only female member.
Corzo was sworn in by her son and her mother shortly after the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. She noted that her mother raised her as a single parent and said that she, too, was a single parent and that she looked forward to increasing the visibility of issues important to single parents.
"My life, my journey has been one of trials and tribulations," Corzo said. She said she was able to overcome obstacles in her path thanks to her family and the community, and she thanked the community for supporting her election to represent the county's District 2.
Both new members won run-off elections in November.
Corzo represents District 2, which encompasses San Mateo, Foster City and much of Belmont. She is a former social worker and a single mom who grew up in the city’s North Central neighborhood.
She formerly served on the San Mateo-Foster City School District Board of Trustees and her election platform centered around child care, healthcare and education.
Mueller represents District 3, which entails Atherton, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Woodside and part of Belmont, along with large unincorporated areas.
He is a Menlo Park resident and previously served on the Menlo Park City Council. In the past Mueller has prioritized affordable housing, investment in coastside infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
Multiple public commenters remarked how proud they were to see Corzo take the oath.
"I'd never thought I'd see the day when the first Latina was on the Board of Supervisors," said Jennifer Blanco, a public commenter and school board trustee with the San Bruno Park School District.
Newly elected Supervisor Ray Mueller was sworn in by his wife and children, whom he thanked after he took the oath to represent District 3.
"I would not be here without you," he said. Mueller said he was grateful for the opportunity to help constituents during the current storms hitting the county.
At the same meeting earlier this week, Dave Pine was elected board president for the coming year.
Pine won a special election in 2011 and has been subsequently re-elected three times.
For 2023, District 4 supervisor Warren Slocum will serve as vice president, and District 5 supervisor will be David Canepa.
The board oversees a $4 billion annual budget that provides a safety net, public safety and other services. It also establishes policies that govern the unincorporated areas of the county.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
For more information, click here.
